Madame President,

We thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for their briefings.

We also thank Hassam Zaki, Assistant Secretary General of the League of Arab States for his remarks.

Last week was the eleventh anniversary of the beginning of the Syrian war.

A horrific war that Assad regime started against its own people who wanted to live in a democratic and free society.

Eleven years of war that inflicted irreparable damages throughout the country.

A man-made disaster that left no single Syrian family untouched.

A tremendous human toll and immense suffering that lasted to this day, as civilians continue to be the daily victims of brutal violence and indiscriminate attacks by the regime and its backers.

Madame President,

The only way to end this bloodshed in Syria is an inclusive political settlement on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

The Constitutional Committee is the only mechanism put in place to advance the political track.

Yet, it has been subject to the regime’s delaying tactics and obstructions, while the Syrian opposition has displayed strong commitment throughout the process.

The 7th round of the Constitutional Committee is being held this week and must produce tangible results this time. These meetings should also be held more frequently and in a result-oriented manner.

We will continue to support the efforts of Special Envoy Pedersen for a political solution.

It is critical that additional initiatives align with the letter and spirit of Resolution 2254 and support its implementation.

Let us also underline that there can be no place for illegitimate formations and terrorist elements in the political process. It is absolutely clear that this would be rejected by the Syrian people.

Ceasefire violations in Idleb and any interruption to the delivery of international humanitarian aid to this region would unleash a new humanitarian crisis, also obstructing any efforts for a durable settlement of this crisis.

Let us reiterate once again: search for a military solution is a futile adventure and will have severe consequences first and foremost for the regime itself.

Madam President,

Türkiye will continue its fight against terrorism and separatism in Syria with utmost determination.

Due to the persistent wrongdoings and ill-advised strategies, DAESH remains a threat to neighboring countries before anyone else.

We have on countless occasions highlighted the mistake of sub-contracting the fight against DAESH to another terrorist organization, namely the PKK/YPG dominated so-called “Syrian Democratic Forces”.

We invite countries that support the PKK/YPG-led SDF to see the ethnic cleansing and the war crimes committed by this terrorist organization in northern Syria.

Ignoring these facts is incompatible with any humanitarian value. It is also a flagrant contradiction and inconsistency in the fight against terrorism.

This approach in no way will bring stability to the east of the Euphrates.

We would like to take this opportunity to once again put on record that our request for a UN investigation into PKK/YPG terrorist organization’s attack on Al Shifa Hospital remains unanswered to this day.

Madam President,

We cannot afford the humanitarian situation in Syria to be overshadowed by other new or protracted humanitarian crises.

International community has an obligation to compensate for the recent decrease in humanitarian financing to the Syrian crisis.

This is necessary in order to improve the conditions of the millions of displaced people living under difficult circumstances, especially in Idleb, and to avoid a new humanitarian catastrophe.

The burden on the shoulders of the neighboring countries should also not be forgotten.

Türkiye has been doing beyond its share for years now, providing temporary protection to close to 4 million Syrians and serving as the single transit point for UN cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria.

We will continue to facilitate cross-line aid deliveries.

Yet, given the extremely precarious humanitarian situation growing worse day by day, cross-border aid remains with no alternative in scope and size.

But above all, we need the international community to act in a principled and responsive manner to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Syria and to produce lasting solutions.

Thank you.